Heading home . . .

Leaving tomorrow morning very early to do some field work with interns in the state and end up in Bozeman for spring break. I will be home until a couple days after Easter.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Maya Angelou

Another good quote . . .

"Patience has its limits. Take it too far, and it's cowardice." George Jackson

I have been working on my patience this year and I had an incident on Friday that this quote described perfectly. When I came to Laramie, I made a commitment that no matter what I ran into here in the work environment, I would use any incident as a way to practice my patience.

I use my "p's and q" as a gentle guide - professional, prepared, positive, patient - or quiet!

But not on Friday!

It is still winter, but . . .

I know it can't last too long - even here in the Rockies at 7400 feet in altitude.

I went home to Bozeman last weekend and helped my Bob celebrate a really big birthday. We had a great time with something special on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday before I came back to Laramie on Tuesday. We had dinner with friends, drinks out with friends, went to the movies, more dinner with friends, and dinner with our Weston (and his parents). It was truly a birthday season celebration! I had hoped to get my "Miss Daisy" cranked up, but played too much and didn't have time for any quilting.

Next week, I head back to Bozeman again on Thursday for a week of spring break plus two weekends. I am excited and have lots planned for the 10+ days. And then when I get back on the 25th of March, I will only have a little more than one month of being away. It has been a good experience, but too long and too far away.

Things are very exciting here in Laramie tonight and tomorrow night. There are huge (for Wyoming) gatherings on campus prior to the Democratic caucusing on Saturday. President Clinton is in town tonight to support Hillary and Barak Obama is in town tomorrow night. The state is jumping with excitement as this kind of attention has never happened before.

Well - off to do some more piecing on my quilt project.

In love . . .

I am totally in love with morning. Not just any part of the morning, but the very, very early part when all in the world is quiet and no matter what time of year, you have to turn on the lights. Coffee smells and tastes so good in those early hours.

I have a friend who gets up and gets started in the truly wee hours. I envy her that and wish I could do it! But, I know I am just an early, early morning person and if I were up at the time she starts her day, it could be a memorable ending to something quite special from the day before. And, I am not going to say any more about that.

I am getting up earlier and earlier - and loving it.

I also found a great quote today the fits me to a "T". It really summarizes my life . . .

"I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult."
E. B. White

Pushing for Spring in the Northern Rockies . . .

I am in Laramie this weekend. The sky is blue and it is a beautiful February "teaser" day that lets us all keep hope that there is a spring. And with the spring comes all kinds of renewal and softening. This year it cannot come too soon. This has been a winter of heartache for so many with losses of loved ones and broken dreams.

I am sewing today in The Cottage. I am paper piecing some small blocks for a quilt I am making. It is a good learning experience, but I am tired of learning and can hardly wait until they are all done.

And I will get outside for a walk even though the temperature is just in the 30's.

Great Day . . .

I came home to Bozeman for the long weekend. Weston's mom, Rainy, and I took him to the Museum of the Rockies here in Bozeman. It is a great place with huge dinosaur exhibits. We had a wonderful morning. Here are a couple pictures. I am heading back to Laramie tomorrow.

Easily enticed . . .

I also like numbers . . .

I read myOlivebranch blog this morning and she posted this number countdown so I am here to try it as well.

10 quarters per washing machine is what it took at the laundry yesterday to do my wash. I have been fortunate so far to go home to Bozeman enough (or to Denver to Gail’s) and have not had to visit the pay facilities yet. It wasn’t half bad – nice and clean – not too busy.

9 months until I get to go to Houston for the International Quilt Festival. My good friend, Gail, and I made our plans yesterday on the phone and we are very excited. I went 3 years ago and said then I would go every year, but haven’t gone since. We have been friends since we were 18 and randomly assigned as roommates at college.

8 is my favorite number – not sure why – but I love the way it sounds and the way your hand goes around when you make it. It has rhythm, twists, and no ends.

7 students were in my class this weekend. It is a class on change and systems thinking for education doc students and the groups are always small, but several could not make it as Wyoming had many, many closed roads including most of I-80 through the state on Friday. They drive in from the regular places of work throughout the state as well as northern Colorado. It is a winter to remember everywhere!

6 rhymes with “sticks” and I always think of my favorite furniture when I hear that. I saw this painted furniture the first time in Portland, OR and have loved it every since. Go check it out – Sticks.

5 great "soul friends” – Betty, Gail, Laurena, Patricia, Ronda – alphabetical order and each are a special blessing!

4 meals I eat each day – breakfast – early lunch – afternoon lunch – supper (all small) since I have been on Weight Watchers online. I have been doing this for about 4 months and have enjoyed success and feel so much better. It is all good!

3 months until I am back in Bozeman full time and back to my quilting and fiber art full time! This has been a fun experience, but one semester would have been enough “fun” to have experienced it appropriately for me! This semester feels like a trip you plan that is just a bit “too long”. I am now doing the count down.

2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law, and 2 grands! The best part of me!

1 Bob – and he is my life partner! It just took me a few years to find him, but it is so worth the journey.

Guess I am blogging again! January was just such a month of sadness! It feels okay!